Garment bag



Jan. 20, 1942. H. w. NICHOLS 2,270,547

GARMENT BAG Filed Aug. 9, 1939 INVENTOR.

H41 0 MCHOLS.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT BAG Harold W.Nichols, Cincinnati, Ohio Application August 9, 1939, Serial No. 289,257

3 Claims.

My invention relates to bags or the like, and I shall describe it inconnection with garment bags, it being understood, however, that theteachings hereinafter contained are applicable to bags or containers forother purposes.

Garment bags, some of which are or may be sealed either to preserve thegarments indefinitely in a clean condition or to exclude moths or otherdeleterious influences have been understood to have the disadvantagethat the contents of the bag cannot conveniently be ascertained withouteither the destruction of the sealed character of the container or thedestruction of the entire container. To this end it has hitherto beensuggested that a window of Cellophane or other suitable translucentsubstance be provided in the bag so that the contents may be ascertainedwithout opening the bag. The disadvantages of the Cellophane window typeof structure are first that it is in itself weak and does not have thedurability of the body of the fabric of the bag; second, that arelatively restricted window dow not give frequently an adequate view ofthe contents. It shows merely a restricted portion of the outer garmenthanging upon the hanger within the bag so that in this way it frequentlyfails in its purpose. Third, a window being translucent is likely tobring about localized fading of the exposed garment where the garmentbag is hung so that light may reach it. It has been proposed to providea flap which may be caused to cover the window; but this adds to theexpense of the structure and is not always satisfactory in excludinglight because it is readily liable to displacement.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of a structure inwhich these disadvantages are eliminated and in which certain additionaladvantages are gained such as a better opportunity to inspect the entirecontents of the bag, a stronger and more positive structure, a structurewhich is inexpensive to make and yet is as strong and durable as the bagwould be if it had no provision for inspection, and the provision of astructure which is normally light tight.

These and additional objects of my invention which will be set forthhereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon readingthese specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction andarrangement of parts of which I shall now describe the aforesaidexemplary embodiment. 4

Reference is made to the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a bag havin means for opening andrescaling. I

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating the manner of use oftheresealing feature of the bag.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the inspection means located atthe side of the bag.

Primarily in the practice of my invention, I provide a garment bag ofany ordinary formation which differs, however, from bags heretoforeproduced in this: that there is incorporated in the main longitudinalseam a strip of transparent or translucent substance, so located andarranged as normally to be entirely hidden and covered up in the same,but exposable either along the entire length of the seam or alongselected portions of said length in such a way as to give a view of thecontents of the bag. My provision for inspecting the contents of the bagwithout opening it, extends preferably substantially from the top of thebag to the bottom thereof so that it is possible to inspect notonly theouter garment in the bag but such other garments as may extend below thelower edge of the outer garment. Thus in most instances the entirecontents of the bag may be readily ascertained. For example, when aman's suit is placed in the bag portions of the trousers normally hangbelow the lower edge of the coat and thus can be seen in the structureof my invention. Likewise in womens clothing when a plurality of dressesor other garments are hung upon a hanger their lower edges are notcoterminous, but one will hang below another so that theinspection'means which I provide nor mally disclose all of them. T

Again I provide a bag which when necessary may be opened either forinspection or for the removal of garments, or for the addition ofgarments as where they are to be stored, providing in connection withthe structure means whereby the bag may be opened readily and in acertain easily resealable mannenand the means whereby the bag may berescaled so as to be proof against moths and the like.

are cemented or otherwise attached respectively to the edge of themember 4, at 6, and to the member 3, at I, along a line interspaced fromthe edge thereof. For the material 5 I may use any suitable substanceincluding but without limitation any of the transparent or translucentfilms now on the market, such as Cellophane, Pliofilm, Parafilm,Kodapak, thin Celluloid, any of the esters of cellulose, glassine paper,or paper otherwise rendered sufliciently translucent for the purpose,and the like. The material 5 thus forms an integral part of the seam,but looked at from the outside of the bag is normally completely coveredby the projecting or flap portion 8 of the member 3.

At the top of the bag for strength, if desired, the flap 8 may becemented to the edge of the member 4 by an adhesive 9. A similarcementing may be practiced at the bottom and, if desired, at intervalsalong the length of the flap 8 for strength.

At the top of the bag it is the usual practice to fold over the cornersthereof as at and II, so as to make the top of the bag conform moreclosely to the shape of a garment hanger (not shown) which is includedin the bag in the ordinary manner, and the hook of which projectsthrough an opening l2 centrally of the top of the bag. This may be donein my invention, and is illustrated in my drawing; but the top of thebag may be sealed and disposed in any other fashion as may be desired.Where also .it is desired to seal the opening l2 about the projectinghook of the garment hanger this likewise is done in any of the wayscurrent in the art. Also it will be the usual practice to seal thebottom l3 of the bag after the garments have beenplaced therein, andthis again is done in any of the ways .current in the art.

It will be understood that the flap 8 normally is closed and lyingagainst the front portion of the bag as shown in Fig. 3. When it isdesired to inspect the contents, however, it is merely necessary toraise the flap slightly with the fingers so as to be able to lookthrough the translucent or transparent substance 5 forming part of theseam. This may be done at any point along the length of the flap 8 whichis not bound by adhesive and may be done without detaching anyadhesively secured portions or opening the bag in any way. Moreover itmay readily be done without tearing the flap 8. It will give aninspection of the contents along the line of the seam substantially fromthe top to the bottom of the bag whereby, as explained, its entirecontents may usually be seen. When the inspection is finished the flap 8is released and returns by its own resilience to its former positionagainst the face of the bag. The automatic closure of the flap 8 shieldsthe garments within the bag from light which might otherwise passthrough the substance 5, and furthermore protects this substance notonly from physical destruction as by tea-ring, but also from hardeningand cracking due to the actinic action of light to which. certain filmsare subject.

The seam may be located in any part of the bag. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 Ihave shown it in the substantial center of one face of the bag; but theseam may be located at or near one edge of the bag, which is anadvantageous construction under some circumstances. It is, however.preferable to interspace the seam a slight distance from the edge, sothat the actual edge fold is formed in paper and not in the transparentmaterial. In Figure 5 I have shown such a construction in which 5aindicates the strip of transparent or trunslucent substance, and 8a thecovering flap. I

While I have spoken of the seam which afiords inspection as the mainseam, it will be understood that the bag may have one or more otherscams if desired; and that a bag may be provided with more than oneinspection seam, such as one or more inspection seams on each side, oran inspection seam adjacent each edge.

In a garment bag it is frequently desired either to remove less than theentire number of garments therein or to add garments to the bag for theprotection which it will afford them. This is not possible where theopening of the bag involves its destruction; but in connection with thepreferred form of my bags I provide a means whereby the bag may readilybe opened in such a way that it can as readily be rescaled, and I alsopreferably provide a resealing substance in connection with my bag.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a bag preferably of the ,form of the bag of Fig.1 but provided at or near one edge with a line of minute perforations orweakenings M. The material of the bag if thin may be partially out alongthis line though not completely severed; but if perforations are usedthese are preferably made so small as not to permit the entrance ofmoths or their larvae. But thebag may readily be opened by slitting ortearing it along the line H and when so opened may be readily sealedagain, since the opening is confined to a single line essentiallybetween walls of the bag which are juxtaposed. The line preferablyextends from near the bottom of the bag to near the top thereof so thatit is readily possible tov remove or replace garments in the bag or addnew ones. When this operation has been accomplished the wall edges arejuxtaposed and sealed with suitable sealing tape or the like l5. Wherethe tape is provided with a nonsetting adhesive the bag may be reopenedand resealed a number of times if desired. Also it is convenient and amatter of great utility to provide the sealing substance I5 with thebag. This I may do by forming it into a roll as at |5a in Fig. 3 andpasting to the bag a strip or strap l6 of paper or the like which willserve to retain the roll. While I have shown this on the outside of thebag, it may be located within it as will be readily understood, sincethe bag will have been opened along the line H before the necessity forsealing arises.

Modifications may be made in my invention without departing from thespirit of it.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A garment bag or like container having lapping wall portionsextending from one end of the bag to the other, and a strip oftranslucent substance longitudinally disposed, joined to the edge of onewall portion, and joined to the other wall portion along a lineinterspaced from said edge, whereby said substance serves to join saidportions but is disposed to be covered by one of said portions when saidportions are lapped, said strip of translucent substance permitting aview of the interior of said bag when the outer wall portion is raisedfrom said translucent substance, said outer wall portion being joined tothe lapped wall por,- tion adjacent the ends of said bag wherebylongitudinal tension in said bag as well as a longitudinally outwardlyconvex condition of said bag will cause said lapping wall portion to lieagainst said strip of translucent substance and cover it.

2. A garment bag of paper having wall portions, one of which laps theother, a strip of nonfibrous transparent film joined to the edge of thelapped wall portion and joined to the lapping wall portion along a lineinterspaced from its edge, whereby said film serves to join saidportions but is disposed to be fully covered by the lapping portion,said strip of film extending from end to end of said bag and saidlapping wall portion adapted to be joined to the lapped Wall portionadjacent each end of said bag whereby longitudinal tension on said bagwill keep said lapping wall portion in a position to cover said strip offilm, said lapping wall portion being displaceable from said strip offilm throughout the greater part of the length of said bag in order topermit a view of the contents thereof.

3. A garment bag of paper having wall portions, one of which laps theother, a strip of non-fibrous transparent film joined to the edge of thelapped wall portion and joined to the lapping wall portion along a lineinterspaced from its edge, whereby said film serves to join saidportions but is disposed to be fully covered by the lapping portion,said strip of film extending from end to end of said bag and saidlapping wall portion adapted to be joined to the lapped wall portionadjacent each end of said bag whereby longitudinal tension on said bagwill keep said lapping wall portion in a position to cover said strip offilm, said lapping Wall portion being displaceable from said strip offilm throughout the greater part of the length of said bag in order topermit a view of the contents thereof, said bag being sealed at its topand capable of being sealed at its bottom, and having a weakened line insaid paper, said weakened line being such as to retain the imperviouscharacter of said bag but to define a line of opening therein, and saidbag bearing a sealing tape whereby it may be resealed after openingalong the said line.

HAROLD W. NICHOLS.

